He has explored the North Pole and driven up mountains but Mac Mackenney says removing abandoned cars from the Sussex countryside is the biggest challenge of all.

After more than a year's work Mr Mackenney, 36, has created a device to free cars from virtually inaccessible ditches and woodland.

Brighton and Hove City Council is piloting the invention with a view to removing dozens of vehicles from remote locations across the city.

Until now, such vehicles have been left to rust because the council does not possess the equipment needed to remove them.

There are thought to be about 50 cars in wooded areas in Brighton and Hove.

Mr Mackenney's invention lifts the cars 4ft into the air with the use of four specialist jacks.

A six-wheeled trolley is then placed underneath and the vehicle is lowered on to it and strapped in place.

It can then be winched out of the undergrowth by a powerful Land Rover.

Mr Mackenney, who runs his own expedition company, has explored the North Pole with Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

In 1998, he drove across the frozen waters of the Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska.

He said: "Despite all I have done, I have found this project by far the most challenging. You don't have to worry about bureaucracy and red tape when you're at the North Pole."

The number of abandoned cars in the city has steadily risen during the past three years, costing the council about £500,000 a year in disposal fees.

Between April 2001 and 2002, 2,700 cars were collected by the council and, in this financial year, 5,118 have been recovered.

Councillor Joyce Edmond-Smith, who chairs the city's sustainability commission, said: "This is really good news. The abandoned cars and rubbish littering our beautiful countryside are a disgrace and I am pleased we can now do something about it.

"I hope we can also find ways to stop people dumping their cars to begin with."

On Thursday, more than 15 cars were removed from Moulsecoomb by Mr Mackenney and his team, operating under the name Ecosalvage.

The group hopes to continue its work as a charity to minimise costs for councils.

Although the city council has not been charged for the pilot, removals would usually cost about £200 per vehicle.